Malawi Censorship Board says not regulating material on internet

By Joseph Mtingwi, Nyasa Times

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Malawi Censorship Board has said it does not censor material on the internet because it is not mandated to do so adding that the Board regulates films, public entertainment and publications; and does not include regulating internet content.

This was disclosed by Deputy Director of Culture, Chrissy Chiumia in an interview with Nyasa Times.

The mandate of the Board is to regulate films, public entertainment and publications; and does not include regulating internet content.

Regulating content on the internet is more than censorship. The issue requires separate legal framework and of course the direct involvement of the internet service providers, explained Chiumia.

She further said as a board they cannot just jump into matters that are not clearly provided by the law.

The challenge is that sensitive material is left uncensored, and our calling is to operate within the mandate of the Censorship Act, she said.

She also explained that consultations on the review of the Censorship act reflected on this issue but the consensus was that regulating content on the internet would better be under the Communications Act.

It is from that background that the issue has evolved to the E Legislation Bill which, among other important matters, seeks to regulate content on the internet, she elaborated.

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Malawi Censorship Board says not regulating material on internet